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Spring 2012 Newsletter • Volume 11 • Issue 2 1514 W. Hall of Fame
Email: ability@okstate.edu Stillwater, OK 74078
Website: www.agrability.okstate.edu Toll Free: 888-885-5588 (voice/tty)
Focus on A Farmer:
William Brown
William Brown owns a remote 80-acre property bordering a national forest in
southeastern Oklahoma where he runs a longhorn cow-calf operation and breeds
and sells horses and mules. Additionally, he clears cedar trees from the rough and
rocky terrain, seeds pastures with bermuda, rye, a mixture of both for grazing, and
rotationally grazes the pastures. He is also a carpenter in his spare time.
If that was not enough of a challenge, Brown has been paralyzed below his rib cage
for 17 years. He still manages his property, using a wheel chair, with the determi-nation
and purpose of any cattleman. In an effort to identify available resources
and assistive technology to assist his son with barriers he is experiencing while
working, William Brown, Sr. contacted the Oklahoma AgrAbility Project. After
an on-site farm assessment, Oklahoma AgrAbility made several recommendations
to reduce barriers to employment. These included solutions to increase mobility,
have easier access to his carpentry equipment, and more convenience and safety in
operating his farm equipment.
Brown listed his overall mobility or accessibility around the property, including the shop, barn and fields, as one of his
major priorities. Other primary objectives were to improve his ability to effectively and safely use his machinery and
tools, as well as his ability to perform general maintenance activities.
Through a collaborative effort between Oklahoma AgrAbility and Mr. Brown, the Oklahoma Department of Rehabili-tation
Services was identified as an appropriate funding source for the needed assistive technologies and accommoda-tions
that included a pilot lift for his tractor, an industrial work table, an 8-foot suit
case ramp, an enclosed cargo trailer, hand controls, and a powered outdoor, all-terrain
wheelchair.
With these accommodations in place, Brown is better equipped to continue his farm
operation as well as his carpentry work with his table saw, drill press and jig saw to
create children’s wooden riding rocking horses, motorcycles and dinosaurs. Brown said
AgrAbility was very helpful in identifying barriers and
finding solutions, and he couldn’t be more satisfied with
the Project’s assistance.
- Sean Hubbard and Sandra Stevenson
About Oklahoma AgrAbility
Oklahoma AgrAbility educates and connects agricultural families who are living with a disability with resources to secure
assistive technologies for continued independence and success in their operation and daily life activities.
William has increased inde-pendence
& mobility on his
property using a powered out-door,
all-terrain wheelchair.
William utilizes a wheelchair lift to gain
access to his carpentry station in the loft of
his barn.
Photos provided

Spring 2012 Newsletter • Volume 11 • Issue 2 1514 W. Hall of Fame
Email: ability@okstate.edu Stillwater, OK 74078
Website: www.agrability.okstate.edu Toll Free: 888-885-5588 (voice/tty)
Focus on A Farmer:
William Brown
William Brown owns a remote 80-acre property bordering a national forest in
southeastern Oklahoma where he runs a longhorn cow-calf operation and breeds
and sells horses and mules. Additionally, he clears cedar trees from the rough and
rocky terrain, seeds pastures with bermuda, rye, a mixture of both for grazing, and
rotationally grazes the pastures. He is also a carpenter in his spare time.
If that was not enough of a challenge, Brown has been paralyzed below his rib cage
for 17 years. He still manages his property, using a wheel chair, with the determi-nation
and purpose of any cattleman. In an effort to identify available resources
and assistive technology to assist his son with barriers he is experiencing while
working, William Brown, Sr. contacted the Oklahoma AgrAbility Project. After
an on-site farm assessment, Oklahoma AgrAbility made several recommendations
to reduce barriers to employment. These included solutions to increase mobility,
have easier access to his carpentry equipment, and more convenience and safety in
operating his farm equipment.
Brown listed his overall mobility or accessibility around the property, including the shop, barn and fields, as one of his
major priorities. Other primary objectives were to improve his ability to effectively and safely use his machinery and
tools, as well as his ability to perform general maintenance activities.
Through a collaborative effort between Oklahoma AgrAbility and Mr. Brown, the Oklahoma Department of Rehabili-tation
Services was identified as an appropriate funding source for the needed assistive technologies and accommoda-tions
that included a pilot lift for his tractor, an industrial work table, an 8-foot suit
case ramp, an enclosed cargo trailer, hand controls, and a powered outdoor, all-terrain
wheelchair.
With these accommodations in place, Brown is better equipped to continue his farm
operation as well as his carpentry work with his table saw, drill press and jig saw to
create children’s wooden riding rocking horses, motorcycles and dinosaurs. Brown said
AgrAbility was very helpful in identifying barriers and
finding solutions, and he couldn’t be more satisfied with
the Project’s assistance.
- Sean Hubbard and Sandra Stevenson
About Oklahoma AgrAbility
Oklahoma AgrAbility educates and connects agricultural families who are living with a disability with resources to secure
assistive technologies for continued independence and success in their operation and daily life activities.
William has increased inde-pendence
& mobility on his
property using a powered out-door,
all-terrain wheelchair.
William utilizes a wheelchair lift to gain
access to his carpentry station in the loft of
his barn.
Photos provided